Concerned Citizen from Janelle WillettJudi Funk
From: janelle_fuller@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, May 6, 2024 5:37 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Concerned citizen
Attachments: Comment to City Council .docx
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May 6th, 2024
To the Kalispell City Council Members,
My name is Janelle Willett and I was born and raised here in
Kalispell, Montana. I am a 3rd generation Montanan. I love this
city and the people in it. I am writing this letter as a concerned
citizen. I have been heart broken and appalled at the way those
experiencing homelessness and housing instability have been
talked about and treated as of late by our community.
I am making this comment in a personal capacity, but to do so I
would like to share what my professional life has looked like.
currently serve on the CHS (Collaborative Housing Solutions)
Education committee.) have worked for 20 years at Christ
Church Episcopal and Camp Marshall as a youth minister. I
have worked as a substitute teacher, a para professional and
currently I am the Heart Locker High School/Young Adult Case
Manager for School District 5. In all of these roles the groups
I'm serving may change, but the goal remains the same. Love
my neighbor and treat every person as I would want to be
treated. It's the golden rule, the highest call and it's the most
basic principal for life. Humanity needs one another to survive.
We always have and we always will.
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While an increase in crimes is always a concern, I would
personally like to know how many of these crimes are non-
violent? When we close access to things and no longer allow
our unhoused to have use of bathrooms, trash, and potable
water- we are going to see things "go sideways." Everyone
needs to use the restroom- and if none are open where are
people going to go? Everyone needs to throw things away. If
trash cans are locked up, what do we expect will
happen? Everyone needs to exist somewhere- if all possible
public parks and spaces are eventually closed to those
"disturbing the peace", where are we suggesting they
exist? Most of us have the luxury of having the worst moments
of our lives happen behind closed doors. We've all been
dysregulated; crying, talking to ourselves, feeling angry, etc.
People experiencing homelessness don't have this luxury. And
so unwillingly share the most vulnerable parts of their lives on
the streets in front of all to see.
Our valley is growing, there's no doubt about that. We can
either work together to meet the growing and changing needs;
or we can continue to divide ourselves, argue and
bicker. These articles highlight some towns/cities that are
combating homelessness and seeing some success. Please
take the time to read through them.
Cities make big bets in fight against homelessness I Bloomberg
Cities (jhu.edu)
https://bloombergcities.uhu.edu/news/these-cities-are-finding-
new-ways-lead-homelessness
We could be one of these cities. Just recently I took a group of
high school students to volunteer at the Butte Rescue
Mission. One of their employees shared "Kalispell is where
Butte was 5 years ago. Homeless numbers increasing with a lot
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of fear and frustration surrounding them. We have seen so
much of that angst dissipate with the opening of this shelter and
the collaborative work other organizations are doing."
We need MORE shelters, not attacking the few we have. We
need more behavioral/mental health services. We need
more addiction services. We need our hard working police
force to be trauma informed and trained. We need a housing
authority that MANDATES more low income/section 8 housing
be available. It is absolutely sickening to see the sheer amount
of apartment buildings that have been allowed to be built here
with NONE of them being affordable. We can do better. You as
our city council must do better.
Kalispell has long been known for the sheer amount of beauty
that surrounds us.
Let us also be known for the sheer amount of beauty WITHIN
each of us.
Sincerely,
Concerned and Caring citizen,
Janelle Willett
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